GARDENDALE, Alabama – Gardendale residents will have the opportunity to meet the first superintendent of the Gardendale School System Tuesday, July 1.

The Gardendale Board of Education hired Dr. Patrick Martin for the superintendent position last week, and Martin will attend the BOE's meeting this Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Gardendale Civic Center. Following the meeting, the school board is hosting a reception for the public to meet Martin and his family.

Martin has served as superintendent for Washington District 50 Schools in Illinois for 4 years. He has 2 years of experience as a superintendent for another school system in Illinois, and has also served as an assistant superintendent, a high school principal, a social science teacher and an athletic director. Martin has said his wife recently moved to Birmingham to serve as the associate head women's basketball Coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.